Duval Skipping Western For 2nd Consecutive Year

June 16, 1999|By Ed Sherman, Tribune Golf Writer.

PINEHURST, N.C. — It's bad news for the Motorola Western Open. For the second straight year, David Duval will be a no-show.

The Western Golf Association had hoped that its ties to Duval would be enough to lure him to Cog Hill in Lemont. But his agent, Charlie Moore, said the world's top golfer will play at the Buick Open next week before taking two weeks off before the British Open.

Moore said Duval bases his schedule on the majors, and the Western, which begins July 1, didn't fit in.

"I know David has good friends (in the WGA)," Moore said. "It's just that when you win as much as he has, and all the demands that come with it, you have to be careful not to overdo it. It's impossible to keep everybody happy."

Tournament director Greg McLaughlin said he was "disappointed but not surprised" about Duval's decision. The tournament does have commitments from Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh with more expected to come next week.

Duval could change his mind if his injured hand keeps him from playing next week. He suffered burns on his right thumb and index finger while grabbing a hot pot last weekend. He played with tape around the injured areas Tuesday and said he didn't have any problems.

Duval noted that with all the snowboarding he does, he almost missed the U.S. Open because he was trying to make some coffee.

"I've never had any problems snowboarding, but trying to fix a cup of coffee, I almost take myself out," Duval said. "Maybe I should just get up on a mountain and buy a cup of coffee at the bottom."

Father flap: Woods' father, Earl, is taking heat over some alleged remarks he made to Icon, a bimonthly men's magazine. In the May/June issue, Earl talked about his dislike for Scotland, the site of next month's British Open.

"That's for white people," Earl was quoted as saying. "It (stinks) as far as I'm concerned. Scotland has the sorriest weather. People had better be happy that the Scots lived there instead of the soul brothers--the game of golf would have never been invented."

Woods goes on to say, "We would have been inside listening to jazz, laughing and joking and drinking rum. Now Africa, I went to Africa and played golf, and I knew I was home."

Earl couldn't be reached for comment, but he told Golf World that the quotes were "farcical and totally fabricated." Icon said it stands by the story, saying the interview was taped.

Roughly: Most of the players were in favor of the decision to mow the rough down to an un-U.S. Open-like three inches. It wasn't unanimous. Lee Westwood wanted to see the grass high.

"(Rough) puts a premium on accuracy," he said. "But now, I don't think it does. Especially if the rains come, then you don't need to be in the fairway off the tee."

On the other hand, Jose Maria Olazabal was glad to see the rough down.

"If you have five inches of rough on this golf course, I think we'd still be here Tuesday or Wednesday of next week," he said.